Kelowna neighbours band together to apprehend gun thief

KELOWNA – Residents of Old Vernon Road in Kelowna came together to catch a man police say stole three guns from a home Thursday afternoon.

Shortly after 2 p.m. on Aug. 11, RCMP were called to the 900 block of Old Vernon Road where several people had apprehended a thief caught in the act, according to a media release.

“Police believe the suspect had gained entry into an area home, where once inside he allegedly stole one rifle and two handguns along with ammunition for the firearms,” Const. Jesse O’Donaghey says in the release. “The suspect, who was believed to be in the process of stealing a red Ford Expedition nearby the scene of the break-in, was confronted and subdued by residents and the vehicles owner, who had been working nearby.”

The suspect is a 39-year-old Kelowna man known to police. He was held in police custody and appeared in court this morning. He faces possible charges of break-and-enter, theft of firearms, theft of a vehicle as well as unauthorized possession of a firearm.

“RCMP would like to thank those individuals who stepped up and acted quickly, confronted the suspect and called police,” O’Donaghey says in the release. “Amazingly no one was injured during the confrontation.”

Anyone with any additional information and has not yet spoken to investigators, is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.

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